Ammunition for recoilless weapons



R E L W F R K AMMUNITION E'OR RECOILLESS WEAPONS Filed Dec. 12,. 1946imwm Patented Dec. 27, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE AMMUNITION FORRECOILLESS WEAPONS Kenneth E. Fowler, Warren, Pa.

Application December 12, 1946, Serial No. 715,675

1 Claim. (Cl. 102-38) My invention relates to improvements in ammunitionfor recoilless weapons, particularly fixed ammunition fired electricallyin suchweapons.

In recoilless weapons of the type to be discussed, a proportion of thepropellent gases is permitted to escape rearwardly of the weapon toeliminate recoil of the same. Leakage of such gases not only diminishesthe resultant eifect of these gases but also causes corrosion of thefinished surfaces of parts resulting in improper functioning of thesame.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an insulating sealbetween the cartridge case walls and the electrical conducting meanspassing through the walls for firing the cartridge, said seal also beingcapable of withstand ing the heat and pressure generated by thepropellent gases.

The present invention can be used with recoilless weapons of thecharacter disclosed in my application Serial No. 715,674, entitledRecoilless Weapons, filed December 12, 1947, in which is claimed thestructure disclosed in this application but not claimed herein.

My invention will be more fully understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the chamber, thebreechblock and adjacent parts of a recoilless weapon, showing inelevation, a round of ammunition with its end broken away to show theconstruction thereof;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the breechblock at line 22 ofFigure 1 showing the orifices at the rear of the weapon through whichthe propellent gases escape for counteracting the recoil of the weapon;

Figure 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken through lines 3-3of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view showing thespring-pressed plunger in engagement with the contact ring of the roundof ammunition preparatory to firing the same.

Figure 1 discloses generally a recoilless weapon having a rifled barrelI, a chamber 2, a breechblock 3, a locking sleeve 4 and a spring-pressedplunger device for electrically firing the round of fixed ammunition.The weapon is single loading and has the necessary mechanism, not shown,for aiming it.

A breech mechanism, not shown, rotates the locking sleeve 4 to unlockand move the breechblock 3 away from the chamber 2 whereby a fired roundof ammunition 5' can be removed from and a new one inserted into thechamber. By reverse 2 1 action of the breech mechanism, the breechblock3 closes the chamber 2 preparatory to firing of the weapon.

To eliminate recoil in the weapon, the breechblock 3 is provided with aplurality of inclined, tapered orifices 6 through which a proportion ofthe propellent gases are discharged from the cartridge case. The degreeof inclination, the direction and the size of these orifices 6 are suchthat the reaction of the propellent gases passing through them willcounteract the forces actingv upon the weapon, such as the rotationalforces created by the reaction between the rifling in the barrel and themoving projectile, and the longitudinal forces, caused by the reactionof the projectile when it is ejected from the cartridge case.

Further explanation of the operation of the recoilless weapon may be hadby reference to my application Serial No. 715,674, filed December 12,1947, entitled Recoilless weapons.

The round of ammunition 5 consists of the cartridge casing 1rigidlysecured, as by crimping, about the projectile 8 of any desiredform and contains a propelling charge 8' adapted to be ignited by aprimer, not shown, which is fired electrically in a manner to bedescribed.

The rear end ID of the cartridge case 1 is closed by a frangible cap 9of cardboard, molded composition or other suitable material which, whenthe round is fired, is blown out by the propellent gases anddisintegrated, permitting a portion of the propellent gases to escaperearwardly of the projectile and through the orifices 6 as heretoforeexplained. The cap 9 is anchored in place by the inturned flange [2 andsealed by wax 9' or other suitable substance.

Forwardly of the rear end lb of the cartridge case I, an annular rim llextends about and is rigidly secured to the cartridge case 1 by brazingor other similar means. The portion of the cartridge case 1, between itsrear end Ill and rim II and indicated by reference numeral I2, is freeto be expanded radially by the gases escaping to the rear, for a purposeto be described.

The rim H is provided with an annular groove l3 containing a. micartalayer 14, or other suitable insulating material. An annular metalliccontact ring I5 is secured in the layer M and sunk below the radialsurfaces of the ring H, clearly shown in Figure 3. The ring I 5 isadapted to be engaged by a spring-pressed pin l6 of the device 5, at allangular positions of the cartridge case 1, the pin l6 being connected toan outside electrical source. The rim II and a wall of the drical recess20 within which a cylindrical piston 2|, formed of copper or othersuitable deformable material, is inserted and insulated from the wallsof the recess 20 by a 'micarta lining 2.2 or similar material. The plug19 is also provided at one end tapered recess 20'. 7 A short insulatedelectrical lead 23, having one of its ends bared and packed with leadfoil against the metallic ring l5 to form a good electrical contacttherewith passes through the opening 24 and has its other end bared andimbedded in the copper piston 2|. Another insulated electrical lead '24having one of its ends bared and imbedded in the copperpiston 2.1, isconnected to a primer, not shown. An insulated lead '25 from the primeris grounded to the cartridge case at 26 to complete the electricalcircuit. The copper piston 2| with its insulating lining 212 has a drivefit within the recess 20. The space between the walls of the fiaredrecess 20' and the electrical .lead 24 is sealed with wax 2 or similarplastic substance to exclude moisture from entering the cartridge case.r

During operation of the weapon, the breechblock 3 is opened, a round ofammunition having the improvement just described is rammed into the gunchamber 2 and the breechblock 3 is then closed and locked'preparatory tofiring.

The gun chamber 2 does not house the complete length of the cartridgecase 1 but only that forward portion u-p'to and including the annularrim H, leaving the remaining portion- 1 2 rearwardly of the rim 1 I tobe engaged by the breechblock 3.

To fire the round of ammunition, electric current from any suitableoutside source is carried by the spring-pressed pin 15 to the annularcontact metallic ring 15,, and then through the lead 23, the copperpiston 24 and the lead '24 to the primer, not shown, returning throughthe grounded lead .25..

Upon firing the round of ammunition, the propellent gases will shoot theproject-fled torwardly I through the gun barrel in the usual manner andat the same time force out the cap 9 disintegrating the same, therebyallow-ing a portion of the propellent gases to escape rearwardly throughthe. orifices B to counteract the recoil of theweapon as alreadyexplained. Simultaneously with this action, the propellent gases willalsoexpand radially the cylindrical portion 12 of the cartridge I case 1against the breechblock 3 to seal off any g with an aperture and at theother end with a v leakage of the propellent gases between the abuttingfaces 28 and 29 of the breechblock 3 and the gun chamber 2,respectively, and through the device 5, thus protecting these parts fromdamage. The piston 2|, will also be forced by the gases against the seat25' in the recess 20 and be de formed, thereby preventing leakage ofsaid gases through the joint between the cartridge case and theelectrical wiring.

Through the use of the expanding portion I2 and the gas-tight seal forthe electrical wiring, I completely and effectively utilize thepropellent gases both to propel the projectile and to counteract recoilof the weapon, losing none of the gases prior to extraction of itsenergy through undesirable leakage.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications may be made in the construction described herein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my inventionl V I claim:

.In an electrically fired round of fixed ammunition having a casing anda rearwardly disposed annular flange thereon adapted to seat between thechamber and breech block of a gun into which the round is loaded, meansfor conducting current from an insulated conductor on said gun to theinterior of said round to fire same, said means serving also to cbturateexplosive gases, said last means comprising an annular conducting ringset into said annular flange but insulated therefrom, a passage throughsaid flange and casing from said ring "to the interior of :said casing,and insulated conducting means in said passage leading from said ring tosaid interior, said conducting means including an enlarged parti-all ydeformable cylindrical plug of relatively soft metal in said passageconstructed and arranged to be forced against a portion of said passageby explosive gases to prevent leakage of such gases through said passagethe portion of the-passage against which the plug is forced underpressure being a conically tapered reduced shoulder in said passage.

KENNETH R. FOWLER.

REFERENCES o 'rnn The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Hasting Apr. 23., 11918

